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Using a US-based building in a different location (EnergyPlus)

asked 2021-01-20 15:53:35 -0600

jhirwa's avatar

updated 2021-04-13 10:27:36 -0600

I am trying to take an existing hospital building file (idf) from Atlanta, Georgia, and simulating it with a weather file (IWEC) from Johannesburg, SA. Based on my research, Johannesburg and Atlanta should have similar climates. I didn't make any additional changes in the idf file except changing the latitude, longitude, time zone, and elevation to match Johannesburg numbers. I am encountering this severe error in which the chiller is failing. Has anybody dealt with this before? Please help

** Severe  ** FindRootSimpleController: Controller error for controller = "CAV_2_COOLC_CONTROLLER"
**   ~~~   **  Environment=RUNPERIOD 1, at Simulation time=08/26 01:45 - 02:00
**   ~~~   **   Controller function is inconsistent with user specified controller action = Reverse action
**   ~~~   **   Actuator will be set to maximum action
**   ~~~   ** Controller control type=Temperature and humidity ratio
**   ~~~   ** Controller temperature setpoint = 7.76E-003 [C]
**   ~~~   ** Controller sensed temperature = 7.81E-003 [C]
**   ~~~   ** Controller humidity ratio setpoint = 7.76E-003 [kgWater/kgDryAir]
**   ~~~   ** Controller sensed humidity ratio = 7.81E-003 [kgWater/kgDryAir]
**   ~~~   ** Controller actuator mass flow rate set to 12.37 [kg/s]
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answered 2021-01-23 19:20:55 -0600

updated 2021-01-23 19:21:35 -0600

The Severe Error appears to be unrelated to the location or weather file. The source of the error seems to be from the Controller:WaterCoil (CAV_2_COOLC_CONTROLLER) Action field. Perhaps change this from Reverse to Normal?

Assuming all of your equipment is set to autosize, the only modifications you would need to make to simulate in a different location are the Site:Location and DesignDay objects. You may also want to adjust the Site:WaterMainsTemperature and Site:GroundTemperature objects if they exist in your IDF.

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Thanks for your input on what needs to change when simulating in a different location. This is really helpful.

Per your response, I tried to change Reverse to Normal but the same error occured. You are right, the error is unrelated to the location because I actually tried to simulate a hospital in San Francisco with a TMY file from San Francisco and it produced the same error.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

Thanks

jhirwa's avatar jhirwa  ( 2021-02-01 20:15:06 -0600 )edit

Did you ever figure this out? I am running the hospital commercial reference model (V7.2 updated to V9.5) and getting the exact same error. Looking for suggestions for how to fix

RyanD's avatar RyanD  ( 2021-07-22 17:59:25 -0600 )edit

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Asked: 2021-01-20 15:53:35 -0600

Seen: 145 times

Last updated: Feb 01 '21